Tweens & Teens

Horseback riding in New York City? You bet! While your NYC apartment probably won't accommodate a pet pony, you can indulge your child’s love of horses without leaving town. There are several options for family-friendly horseback riding and grooming lessons, plus drop-in trail riding experiences for a unique way to experience the great outdoors in NYC.

Sadly, Claremont Riding Academy, the last remaining horse stable in Manhattan, closed in 2007 so there's no longer horseback riding in Central Park. However, there are stables in the other four boroughs that allow families to make like it's the Wild West.

Corn mazes are created by a tractor in a growing field of corn—usually following a fairly intricate design. For large mazes, GPS is often used to create a picture that can be seen from the air. A mature corn maze is a true adventure, with walls of corn that are taller than most adults; children (and adults) can for sure lose their way! Most operators recommend kids be at least 5-8 years old before going in alone; use your judgment, of course. Closed-toe shoes are recommended for comfort (sneakers are best), as corn mazes involve walking on uneven ground amid broken cornstalks. And if you head into the maze at dusk, be sure to bring a flashlight!

Spanning the Long Island Sound to the Peconic Bay, this North Fork hamlet is perfect for a day trip or a week’s vacation with plenty of fresh-from-the-vine wine and produce, farms and local food, hiking, fishing and beaching to do! We’ve put together a list of things to do and see while you’re there.

Your family's list of must-do activities for fall wouldn't be complete without an old-fashioned hayride. Check out these area farms and ranches for hayrides around the property, which often include pumpkin patches and fun activities for the whole family.

For more things to do around with kids Houston this season, see our Fall Fun Guide.

Shirley Chisholm State Park opened to the public July 2019, bringing over 10 miles of new biking and hiking trails to the shores of south Brooklyn. New York City's newest state park transforms a former landfill into a lovely waterfront destination accessible from the Belt Parkway or the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Canarsie and East New York. For a look at the new park and a peek at what's next, read on.

Fall in Texas may boast temperatures hotter than most summers in other places, but that doesn't mean there aren't an array of quintessential fall activities in the area for families to enjoy, with favorites such as pumpkin patches, hay rides, fall festivals and corn mazes topping the list. While the Bayou City doesn't have a large number of corn mazes, the mazes out there offer up larger-than-life fall fun for the family. Put your problem-solving skills to good use this fall as you navigate through one of these corn mazes around Houston.

As cool crisp nights begin to make outdoor excursions more bearable, fun fall-themed activities for families to enjoy seem to pop up all over. You can choose traditional favorites such as apple picking, pumpkin picking, or enjoying the fall colors or go on an adventure, exploring a corn maze as a family.

The corn maze is a Pennsylvania tradition—quite literally. The first corn maze as we know it today was built in our state in 1993, and 25 years later, the Keystone State boasts some truly impressive mazes. The largest occupies twenty five acres, and many of them feature special themes, games, and activities. The sheer variety of these mazes offers something for kids of all ages, and some farms even offer nighttime hours, where kids can work their way through the darkened maze with flashlights. Some mazes even offer thrills and chills for the truly adventurous. All told, there is something for everyone.

The perfect balance of fun and challenge for kids, corn mazes are a fall tradition for many Connecticut families. No matter what part of the state you live in, you likely have the opportunity for a corn-mazing adventure. These farms feature not just mazes, but extra activities like hay rides and animal petting areas. So, put your sneakers and thinking caps on, and get out there! For more autumnal outings, see our post on Things to Do This Fall in Connecticut, including papple picking spots, fall festivals and fairs, and pumpkin patches.

Larger-than-life corn mazes offer families the challenge of working through a tricky puzzle together, all while enjoying New England's crisp fall weather. Add exciting play areas, hayrides, pumpkin patches, and quirky country games (like apple and pumpkin blasters), and a corn maze outing becomes one of our favorite fall activities. Here are some of the Boston area's best corn mazes for an outdoor autumn adventure.

Visiting Ground Zero with your kids is a deeply personal decision. Even if your family hasn't already talked about the terrible events of September 11, 2001, many children will learn about the attack on the city at school, from friends, or via the annual coverage of the anniversary. Whether you're breaking the news yourself, or your kids bring questions to you, a visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum might help provide some context and meaning.

You're probably aware that this isn't your typical kid-centric museum, and children may only be able to handle a small part of the exhibit without feeling emotional. So, whether your kid is a native New Yorker or you're just visiting, here are our parent-tested tips for your visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.